Apparatus and a method for bagging debris in a commercially available trash bag which has closure straps

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for bagging debris in a commercially available trash bag which has closure straps. The device is composed of a housing defining a generally cylindrical enclosure whose ends are in open communication with the exterior of the housing. The housing is flattened on one side to maintain the device in a stable position when it is placed on the ground. The housing has a handle attached to its exterior to enable a user to lift and maneuver the device. The housing has a means for attaching a trash bag which has one or more closure straps to one end of the housing using the trash bag&#39;s closure straps such that the generally cylindrical enclosure of the housing is in open communication with the interior of the trash bag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices for trash, leaf and/or debrisbagging. More particularly, this invention relates to devices for trash,leaf and/or debris bagging which use the straps of a trash bag forattaching such bags to the device.

2. Description of the Problem

Homeowners periodically dispose of debris, such as leaves, cut grass,and paper refuse, which have accumulated in the yards of their homes byplacing such debris in paper or plastic trash bags. The process ofbagging yard debris typically consists of raking the debris into one ormore piles followed by moving the contents of the piles into an opentrash bag. The operation of moving the accumulated debris into a trashbag by hand is cumbersome, requiring the homeowner to find some way tohold the trash bag open while laboriously moving handfuls of debris intothe bag or using the rake to push the debris into the open bag.

Devices have previously been constructed to assist homeowners in baggingyard debris. Typically such devices are frames, funnels, or platformswhich hold a trash bag in an open position and which may provide apathway to direct the debris into the open bag using a rake or shovel.The primary disadvantage of all such devices is that the means used toattach a trash bag to the device is either relatively cumbersome tooperate, prone to tearing the bag, or fails to securely hold the bag asthe bag becomes weighed down with debris. None of these devices takesadvantage of the most natural and strongest attachment point for trashbags, the bag's closure straps.

3. Description of Related Art

Previously, devices or systems for bagging debris have used a number ofbasic mechanisms for attaching trash bags to the device. One method ofattaching a trash bag to a bagging device is to stretch the trash bagover the device's frame. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No.4,981,274 (McVay). The '274 device is comprised of a rectangular framerotatably mounted on a fixed base. The entire device is inserted intothe opening of a trash bag and then the rectangular frame is rotateduntil it is pressed tightly against the trash bag's side walls. Anothersuch device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,503 (Horan). The '503 deviceis comprised of a wedge shaped platform with two spring actuated arms oneither side of the platform. The arms of the device are retracted andthe entire device is inserted into the opening of the bag. The arms ofthe device are then allowed to spring out against the side walls of thebag, holding the bag in place.

One disadvantage of these of devices is that they engage the trash bagon the bag's relatively weak side walls and are thus prone to tear thebag. A second disadvantage of these devices is that inserting the deviceinto the bag is a relatively slow and cumbersome operation. A thirddisadvantage of these devices is that they are manufactured with anumber of moving parts which increases the cost of manufacturing thedevices and makes the devices less durable than devices with no movingcomponents.

A second method of attaching a trash bag to a bagging device is to clampthe trash bag to the device's frame. One such device is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 5,308,027 (Fullilove). The '027 device is comprised of atelescoping rectangular frame mounted on a wedge shaped platform. Therectangular frame has clamps running the length of the top and bothsides of the frame. The open end of a trash bag is clamped to the topand the sides of the device's frame with the back of the wedge shapedplatform inserted in the bag's opening. The dimensions of the frame areadjusted to approximate that of the opening of the bag.

One disadvantage of this device is that inserting the device into atrash bag and clamping the bag to the device is a relatively slow andcumbersome operation. A second disadvantage of this device is that itcontains a number of moving parts which increases the cost ofmanufacturing the device and makes the device less durable than deviceswith no moving components. A third disadvantage of this type of deviceis that the devices clamps may tear the bag as the bag is stretchedwhile it is being filled.

A third method of attaching a trash bag to a bagging device is to use astrap or cord to secure the bag to the device's housing. One such deviceis shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,406 (Petersen). The '406 device iscomprised of a open ended housing with a retaining channel encirclingthe housing on one end and an adjustable strap. The housing is insertedinto the opening of a trash bag and the adjustable strap is placed thenover the bag and housing and seated in the retaining channel. The strapis then tightened and secured, fixing the bag on the housing.

One disadvantage of this device that inserting the device into the bagand securing the bag with a retaining strap is a relatively slow andcumbersome operation. A second disadvantage of this device is that itcontains a separate retaining strap which increases the cost ofmanufacturing the device. A third disadvantage of this device is thatthe retaining strap can be lost or broken, rendering the deviceunusable.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable commerciallyavailable trash bags to be rapidly attached to and detached from a leafbagging apparatus with a minimum of effort by the apparatus's user.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize the risk thatthat a trash bag attached to a leaf bagging apparatus will tear when thebag is attached to the apparatus or when the bag fills with debris.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize the number ofcomponents used to create a leaf bagging apparatus, making the deviceless expensive to manufacture and more reliable in operation.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art when thedrawing is studied in conjunction with the detailed specification.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus and a method for bagging debris ina commercially available trash bag which has closure straps. The deviceis composed of a housing defining a generally cylindrical enclosurewhose ends are in open communication with the exterior of the housing.The housing is flattened on one side to maintain the device in a stableposition when it is placed on the ground. The housing has a handleattached to its exterior to enable a user to lift and maneuver thedevice. The housing has a means for attaching a trash bag which has oneor more closure straps to one end of the housing using the trash bag'sclosure straps such that the generally cylindrical enclosure of thehousing is in open communication with the interior of the trash bag.

In one embodiment of the device, the means for attaching the trash bagto the housing are one or more members attached to the externalcircumference one end of the housing. Such members can be either aremovable clip or a projection molded to the housing such that themember extends outward from the housing, and upward toward the oppositeend of the housing creating a cradle in the elbow of the member. A userpulls the trash bag straps up and over the end of the members into theelbow or cradle of the member.

The method of bagging trash described here is comprised of the steps ofholding a trash bag which has one or more closure straps in a fixed andopen position using the bag's closure straps to hold the bag inposition, guiding debris onto a relatively flat surface located adjacentto the opening of the trash bag, and tilting the flat surface adjacentto the opening of the trash bag such that gravity causes the debris tofall through the opening of the trash bag into the interior of the trashbag. In one embodiment of the invention, the weight of the debris in thetrash bag cause the straps of the trash bag to be more held more firmly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1. is a diagonal elevation view of one embodiment of a leaf baggingdevice.

FIG. 2. is a side view of the embodiment of the leaf bagging deviceshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3. is a top view of the embodiment of a leaf bagging device shownin FIG. 1 and a detailed view of the bag handle clip on the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIG. 1, the leaf bagging device is comprised of agenerally cylindrical housing 1 with a two open ends 2 and 4, a handle12, and clips 14 for attaching a trash bag with closure straps to thehousing 1 over the open end 4. The housing 1 is constructed ofpolypropylene, but could also be constructed of other durable,lightweight materials such as other types of plastic, metal, such asaluminum, or wood. The handle 12 and the clips 14 are also constructedof polypropylene, but could also be constructed of other durablematerials such as other types of plastic, metal, such as aluminum, orwood. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle 12 ismolded into the housing 1 and the clips are molded separately andinserted into slots in the housing, however, both components could bemolded into the housing or molded separately and attached to the housingusing tabs, screws, or other conventional means of attachment.

One wall of the housing 8 is flattened, allowing the housing 1 to restin a stable position on the ground. The handle 12 is positioned on awall 10 of the housing 1 opposite the flattened wall 8 of the housing 1.One end 2 of the housing 1 is larger in width and circumference than theopposite end 4 of the housing 1. The walls of the housing 1, with theexception of the flattened wall 8, slope as they proceed from the largeropen end 2 of the housing 1 to the smaller open end 4 of the housing 1.Thus, the walls of the housing 1 define an approximately funnel shapedchannel 6. The flow of debris in the device flows through the channel 6from the larger open end 2 to the smaller open end 4. The funnel shapeof the channel 6 of the housing tends to compress debris as they flowfrom the larger open end 2 of the housing towards the smaller open endof the housing 4.

Referring next to FIG. 2, the flat wall 26 of the housing 20 is flat theentire length of the housing 20 from the larger open end 22 of thehousing 20 to the smaller open end 24 of the housing 20. The wall of thehousing 28 opposite the flat wall 26 of the housing 20 slopes downwardas it moves from the larger open end 22 of the housing 20 to the smalleropen end 24 of the housing 20. The flow of debris in the device flowsthrough the channel within the housing 34-34′ from the larger open end22 of the housing to the smaller open end 24 of the housing. Two clips32 for attaching a trash bag with closure straps to the housing 20 overthe smaller open end 24 are mounted near the small open 24 of thehousing 20 approximately midway between the flat wall 26 of the housing20 and the top of the housing 20.

The handle 30 is is positioned on the wall 28 of the housing 20 oppositethe flattened wall 26 of the housing 20 near the larger open end 22 ofthe housing 20. Positioning the handle 30 near the larger open end 22 ofthe housing 20 causes the housing to tilt in direction of the smallerend 24 when the housing 20 is lifted using the handle 30. The axis ofthe handle 30 is parallel to direction of flow of debris through thechannel 34-34′ of the housing 20. Positioning the axis of the handle 30parallel to the flow of debris through the channel 34-34′ of the housing20 allows the user of the apparatus to hold the apparatus in a stableposition when debris are forced through the channel 34-34′ of thehousing 20.

Referring next to FIG. 3, a trash bag 49 can be attached to the smalleropen end 44 of the housing 40 by the trash bags closure straps using twoclips 48 attached to opposite sides of the housing 40 near the smalleropen end 44 of the housing 40. The interior of the trash bag 49 is inopen communication with the channel 45-45′ of the housing 40. Debris areraked into the larger open end 42 of the housing 40 and flow through thechannel of the housing 40 into the interior of the trash bag 49. Theaxis of the handle 46 is parallel to the channel of the housing 45-45′of the housing 40. In the preferred embodiment, the larger open end 42of the housing 40 is somewhat wider than the head of a standard leafrake, although devices with narrower or wider openings could beconstructed for use with narrower or wider rakes, brooms, or shovels. Inthe preferred embodiment, the smaller open end 44 of the housing 40 issmaller than the opening of a standard 20 or 40 gallon trash bag,although devices with narrower or wider openings could be constructedfor use with smaller and larger trash bags.

The clip 48 is inserted into a slot in the housing 40 using a tab 50 onthe back of the clip. The clip 48 has a hook with a bottom elbow 54 anda top flange 52 that flares outward. The axis of the clip 56-56′ isorientated parallel to the channel of 45-45′ of the housing 40 with thetop flange 52 of the clip 48 pointing towards the larger open end 42 ofthe housing and away from the smaller open end 44 of the housing 40. Thestructure of the hook creates a cradle in the elbow of the member. Auser pulls the closure straps of a trash bag straps up and over the topflange 52 of the hook and down toward the elbow 54 of the hook into thecradle created by the elbow 54 of the hook. This method of attachmentrapidly secures the strapped bag to the smaller open end 44 of thehousing 40 using only the straps of the trash bag. In addition, asweight is added to the trash bag, the straps of the trash bag are pulledmore tightly, causing the bag to seal even more securely around thesmaller open end 44 of the housing 40. Note that the means for attachingthe trash bag to the housing need not be limited to a clip as describedabove, but could include any kind of projection attached to or moldedinto the housing such that the projection extends outward from thehousing, and upward toward the end of the larger open end 42 of thehousing 40 creating a cradle in the elbow of the member.

An illustrative operational cycle of the preferred embodiment is asfollows. The open end of a trash bag with closure straps is slipped overthe smaller end 44 of the housing. Each closure strap of the trash bagis slipped over the top flange 52 of a clip 48 nearest that closurestrap. The closure straps are then pulled down into elbow 54 of the hookof the clip 48 into which that closure strap was inserted. The apparatusis then placed on the ground resting on the flat side 8 of the housing1. Leaves and other debris are raked into the larger open end 2 of thehousing 1. When the housing 1 has been filled with debris, the housing 1is tilted by raising the larger open end 2 of the housing above thesmaller open end of the housing 4 using the handle 12. Gravity causesdebris to slide through the channel 6 into the trash bag attached to thesmaller end of the housing 4. The operation of filling the housing 1 andemptying it into the trash bag may be repeated until the trash bag isfull. The closure straps of the trash bag are then slipped off of theclips 14 on the housing 1 and the bag is slipped off of the apparatusand sealed using the trash bag's closure straps.

The form of housing 1 is designed and constructed such that the housingcircumference is smaller moving along the 34-34′ axis in housing 20,creating the opportunity for multiple embodiments to be packagedtogether by inserting open end 24 into open end 22 of the nextembodiment, in the case where the handle 30 and the clip 32 are notmolded to the housing, but rather, attached later by the user.

The foregoing description of the illustrated embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed. The description was selected to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application of thoseprinciples to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize theinvention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suitedto the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention not be limited by the specification, but be defined by theclaims set forth below.

1. An apparatus for collecting debris in a trash bag comprising: ahousing defining a generally cylindrical enclosure with a first end anda second end, the first end of the housing and the second end of thehousing being in open communication with the exterior of the housing,the housing further having a generally flattened first wall extendingapproximately the length of the housing from the first end of thehousing to the second end of the housing; a handle attached to theexterior of the housing on a second wall of the housing; a means forattaching a trash bag which has one or more closure straps to the secondend of the housing using the trash bag's closure straps such that thegenerally cylindrical enclosure of the housing is in open communicationwith the interior of the trash bag.
 2. The invention in claim 1 wherethe means for attaching the trash bag to the housing is a member isattached to the external circumference of the second end, the memberbeing either a removable clip or a projection molded to the housing suchthat the member extends outward from the housing, and upward toward thefirst end of the housing creating a cradle in the elbow of the member,whereby the user may pull bag straps up and over the end of the memberextending toward the first end of the housing, and down toward thesecond end of the housing into the elbow or cradle of the member.
 3. Theinvention in claim 1 where the body of the handle attached to thehousing is positioned parallel to a line extending from the first end ofthe housing to the second end of the housing.
 4. The invention in claim2 where the body of the handle attached to the housing is positionedparallel to a line extending from the first end of the housing to thesecond end of the housing.
 5. The invention in claim 1 where the firstend of the housing has a diameter larger than the second end of thehousing.
 6. The invention in claim 2 where the first end of the housinghas a diameter larger than the second end of the housing.
 7. Theinvention in claim 3 where the first end of the housing has a diameterlarger than the second end of the housing.
 8. The invention in claim 4where the first end of the housing has a diameter larger than the secondend of the housing.
 9. The invention in claim 5 where the diameter ofthe first end of the housing is larger than the width of the head of aleaf rake and the diameter of the second end of the housing is less thanthe opening of a 20 or 40 gallon trash bag.
 10. The invention in claim 6where the diameter of the first end of the housing is larger than thewidth of the head of a leaf rake and the diameter of the second end ofthe housing is less than the opening of a 20 or 40 gallon trash bag. 11.The invention in claim 7 where the diameter of the first end of thehousing is larger than the width of the head of a leaf rake and thediameter of the second end of the housing is less than the opening of a20 or 40 gallon trash bag.
 12. The invention in claim 8 where thediameter of the first end of the housing is larger than the width of thehead of a leaf rake and the diameter of the second end of the housing isless than the opening of a 20 or 40 gallon trash bag.
 13. A method forcollecting debris in a trash bag comprising the steps: holding a trashbag which has one or more closure straps in a fixed and open positionusing the bag's closure straps to hold the bag in such a position;guiding debris onto a relatively flat surface located adjacent to theopening of the trash bag; tilting the relatively flat surface adjacentto the opening of the trash bag such that gravity causes the debris tofall through the opening of the trash bag into the interior of the trashbag.
 14. The invention in claim 13 where the debris are compressed asthey are guided onto the relatively flat surface adjacent to the openingof the trash bag.
 15. The invention in claim 13 including the additionalstep: applying the weight of the debris in the trash bag to the strapsof the trash bag causing it to be held more firmly.
 16. The invention inclaim 14 including the additional step: applying the weight of thedebris in the trash bag to the straps of the trash bag causing it to beheld more firmly.